Telephonic voice message transmission control method

ABSTRACT

The present invention is directed to a method of controlling transmission of voice messages or information via telephonic voice message systems, which are sometimes referred to as Voice Mail Systems. Users of the system selectively specify voice message transmission instructions for controlling transmission of voice messages directed to them. Upon receipt of a user&#39;s voice message address, the voice message system determines whether the destination voice message address has a specified voice message transmission instruction previously selected by the recipient and processes the voice message in accordance with the instruction.

This application is a continuation of prior application Ser. No.10/656,162, filed Sep. 8, 2003, which is incorporated herein byreference in its entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to telephonic voice message systems,sometimes referred to as Voice Mail systems and, in particular, to amethod of controlling transmission of telephonic voice message data insuch systems.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Electronic interpersonal communication may be conducted in a variety offormats including direct telephonic voice communication, facsimiledocument communication, electronic mail communication, and telephonicvoice message communication. Facsimile document communication andelectronic mail communication may be characterized as document-based,and the other two formats as voice-based.

Direct telephonic voice communication is unique among these formats inthat it requires contemporaneous participation by all parties. In manybusiness situations, the requirement for contemporaneous participationis unnecessary, disruptive, and time consuming. As a consequence, thenoncontemporaneous communication formats of facsimile documentcommunication, electronic mail communication, and telephonic voicemessage communication are becoming preferred over direct telephonicvoice communication for many situations.

With increasing volumes of information being transmitted by thedifferent noncontemporaneous communication formats, recipients of theinformation can be burdened by the effort of sorting through andreviewing the information. In this regard, the document basis offacsimile and electronic mail communication formats allow a recipient tovisually sort through large amounts of information relatively quickly.

In contrast, voice-based information or messages on telephonic voicemessage systems are reviewed aurally, which requires that the recipientreview telephonic voice messages serially. With increasing numbers oftelephonic voice messages, the review of messages by a recipient canbecome excessively time-consuming and burdensome.

This burden can be exacerbated because conventional telephonic voicemessage systems provide the recipient with little control over whichinformation is received over the system. In contrast, some conventionalcommunication systems other than telephonic voice message systemsprovide the recipient of the information with at least minor controlover the information received. For example, some direct telephoniccommunication systems include features such as call forwarding. Someelectronic mail systems include message notification prioritizationbased on the identity of the sending party.

EP-A-0 588 101 discloses a message storage and retrieval systememploying selected caller processing which uses automatic numberidentification (ANI) to implement several voice message instructionfeatures such as message forwarding, message priority, customizedgreetings and single digit call-back to the voice message originator.The instructions are executed on voice messages that have already beentransmitted and stored by a sender in the recipient's voice messagesystem.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An object of the present invention is, therefore, to provide a method ofcontrolling transmission of telephonic voice message information.

Another object of this invention is to provide such a method in whichthe recipient controls the telephonic voice message data to be received.

A further object of this invention is to provide such a method in whichthe telephonic voice message data to be received is controlled accordingto the voice message system address of the sender.

The present invention is directed to a method of controllingtransmission of voice messages or information via telephonic voicemessage systems. In a preferred embodiment, a person speaks into atelephone to create or originate a voice message to he sent to anotherperson. The recipient of the message has an assigned address or“mailbox” on the telephonic voice message system analogous to atelephone number and referred to as the destination voice messageaddress. The sender may have an assigned address on and be a system userof the voice message system or may be a system visitor without apermanent system address and who, for example, accesses the system afteran unsuccessful direct telephone call to the recipient.

After the sender has originated the voice message, the sender directsthe voice message to the recipient by sending the voice message and thedestination address to the telephonic voice message system. In manysystems, the originator keys the destination address number into a DTMFtelephone keypad. Other voice message systems include voice recognitionsubsystems that allow the originator to enter the destination addressmerely by stating it. Upon receipt of the voice message and thedestination address, the telephonic voice message system determineswhether the destination voice message address is valid and whether ithas a specified voice message transmission instruction previouslyselected by the recipient for controlling voice messages directed to thedestination address.

Preferably, a variety of voice message transmission instructions can beselected by the recipient. The selectable voice message transmissioninstructions can include, for example, transmitting the telephonic voicemessage data to an alternate or additional voice message destinationhaving a voice message address different from the destination voicemessage address, determining whether the origination address is includedin a list of at least one acceptable origin address and transmitting thevoice message to the destination only if the origination address isincluded in the preselected set, or determining whether the originationaddress is included in a list of at least one unacceptable originaddress and blocking transmission of the voice message to thedestination address whenever the origination address is included in thelist.

The selectable voice message transmission instructions also can includeassigning voice messages from a specified origination address with adelivery priority (e.g., high or low) that determines the sequence inwhich messages are retrieved by the recipient, or designating voicemessages from a specified origination address as being private so themessages cannot be copied or forwarded. If the voice message systemincludes a voice recognition and conversion subsystem, the selectablevoice message transmission instructions can include converting voicemessages to electronic mail or facsimile documents and delivering themto a selected electronic mailbox or facsimile device, respectively.

Whenever the destination address has a specified voice messagetransmission instruction for controlling transmission of the telephonicvoice message data, the voice message system processes the voice messageaccording to the instruction. Whenever the destination address has nospecified voice message transmission instruction for controllingtransmission of the telephonic voice message data, the voice message istransmitted to the destination address and stored for retrieval by therecipient, as in conventional operation of voice message systems.

Additional objects and advantages of this invention will be apparentfrom the following detailed description of preferred embodiments thereofwhich proceeds with reference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a simplified schematic block diagram of a telephonic voicemessage system in which voice message transmission is controllableaccording to the method of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flow diagram showing a method of controlling voice messagetransmission in the system of FIG. 1 according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a simplified schematic block diagram of a pair of networkedtelephonic voice message systems in which voice message transmission iscontrollable according to the method of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a flow diagram showing a method of controlling voice messagetransmission in the system of FIG. 3 according to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1 represents a generally conventional telephonic voice messageapparatus or system 10 that controls transmission, delivery, and storageof voice messages, which are sometimes referred to as Voice Mailmessages. Telephonic voice message system 10 may be of the typemanufactured and sold by any of a large number of manufacturers thatinclude VMI, Comverse, Centigram, Rolm, Northern, or Boston Technology.Exemplary models of voice message system 10 may include the INFINITY 2manufactured by Comverse Technology Inc. of Woodbury, N.Y. and theONE-VIEW manufactured by Centigram Communications of San Jose, Calif.

Voice message system 10 may be telephonically accessed by multiplesystem users, each of which has an assigned message address or“mailbox,” as well as system visitors who do not have assigned messageaddresses on voice message system 10. For reference purposes, voicemessage system 10 is shown connected to telephones 12 and 14 by which,respectively, a message sender (user A) and a message recipient (user B)access voice message system 10. It will be appreciated that telephones12 and 14 may be located anywhere and can access voice message systemthrough any switching or transmission systems, including a privatebranch exchange (PBX), local public switched telephone network (PSTN),or long distance or international telephone lines or channels.Telephones 12 and 14 require only basic capabilities (e.g., a DTMFkeypad) to be operable with voice message system 10.

For purposes of clarity, message senders and recipients having assignedvoice message addresses on voice message system 10 are referred toherein as system users. Voice message system 10 is also capable ofreceiving voice messages from others, who are referred to herein assystem visitors. The following description is directed mainly tocommunication between system users A and B, but is similarly applicableto communication between a system visitor and either of system users Aand B.

In conventional operation of voice message system 10, user A sends userB a voice message by telephoning voice message system 10 from telephone12 and speaking into it to create a voice message or voice message data.Voice message system 10 automatically digitizes the voice message forstorage User A directs the voice message to its destination (e.g., userB) and adds any conventional sender delivery commands for voice messagesystem 10 (e.g., message delivery priority) by keying the destinationmessage address and sender delivery command codes on the DTMF keypad oftelephone 12. Alternatively, voice message system 10 includes a voicerecognition subsystem that allows the sender to enter the destinationaddress and any sender delivery commands merely by stating them.

Voice message system 10 associates the digitized voice message data withthe destination message address and sender delivery commands and storesthem for retrieval by the recipient (user B). Typically, voice messagesystem 10 delivers to telephone 14 an indication that a message isavailable for retrieval by user B. Alternatively, user B may call voicemessage system 10 to check, for any voice messages. In generally thismanner, a system user A on virtually any voice mail system is able tosend a voice message to another system user B.

In accordance with the present invention, users A and B, as well as anyothers of the many system users, can control the transmission of voicemessages or information directed to their message addresses by selectingpreprogrammed voice message transmission instructions that are stored onvoice message system 10. With increasing numbers of telephonic voicemessages and voice message system users, voice message transmissioninstructions selectable by the recipient can prevent voice messagesystem 10 from becoming inconvenient or burdensome to use.

FIG. 2 is a flow diagram showing a preferred method 20 of controllingtransmission of voice message data according to the present invention.Voice message transmission control method 20 is described with referenceto communication between systems users A and B, but is similarlyapplicable to communication from a system visitor to a system user.

Process block 22 represents that user A makes telephone contact withvoice message system 10. The telephone contact with voice message system10 may be specifically initiated by user A, or user A may beautomatically transferred to voice message system 10 as a result ofattempting to make a direct telephonic call to user B.

Process block 26 represents that user A speaks into a telephone tocreate or originate for user B a voice message from which voice messagesystem 10 generates and stores voice message data or information. Voicemessage system 10 also acquires and stores the message address for userB and any sender delivery commands selected by user A. As is known inthe art, the message address for user B may be keyed into a DTMFtelephone keypad by user A or may have been previously acquired by voicemessage system 10. Alternatively, voice message system 10 includes avoice recognition subsystem that allows the sender to enter thedestination address and any sender delivery commands merely by statingthem.

Inquiry block 28 represents an inquiry whether the destination messageaddress is a valid address on voice message system 10 and whether thereis a specified voice message transmission instruction previouslyselected by user B for controlling voice messages directed to thedestination message address. This inquiry takes place in response to theentry by user A of a destination message address or any sender deliverycommands that are stored for delivery to the destination voice messageaddress of user B. For example, voice message system 10 confirms whetherthe destination message address is a valid address and reviews a storedfirst listing of destination message addressees that have specifiedvoice message transmission instructions.

If the destination message address is valid and has a specified voicemessage transmission instruction, inquiry block 28 proceeds to processblock 30. If the destination message address is valid and does not havea specified voice message transmission instruction, inquiry block 28proceeds to process block 34. If the destination message address is notvalid, an invalid address message is delivered to user A.

Process block 30 represents that voice message system 10 accesses thespecified voice message transmission instructions for the destinationmessage address from a stored listing of destination message addressesand associated specified voice message transmission instructions. Itwill be appreciated that voice message system 10 is analogous to acomputer by being programmable and having large information storagecapacity. Storing the listings and programming voice message system 10to create, review and access the listings is within the capabilities ofpersons skilled in the art.

The selectable voice message transmission instructions can include, forexample, transmitting the telephonic voice message data to an alternateor additional voice message destination having a voice message addressdifferent from the destination voice message address, determiningwhether the origination address is included in a list of at least oneacceptable origin address and transmitting the voice message to thedestination only if the origination address is included in thepreselected set, or determining whether the origination address isincluded in a list of at least one unacceptable origin address andblocking transmission of the voice message to the destination addresswhenever the origination address is included in the list.

The selectable voice message transmission instructions also can includeassigning voice messages from a specified origination address with apriority (e.g., high or low) that determines the sequence in whichmessages are retrieved by the recipient, or designating voice messagesfrom a specified origination address as being private so the messagescannot be copied or forwarded. If voice message system 10 includes avoice recognition and conversion subsystem, the selectable voice messagetransmission instructions can include converting voice messages to textdata suitable for delivery as electronic mail to a selected electronicmailbox. The selectable voice message transmission instructions canfurther include converting the text data to a facsimile documentsuitable for delivery to a facsimile device.

User B selects voice message transmission instructions by keyingcorresponding command or selection codes on the DTMF keypad of telephone14 in response to interactive voice prompts from voice message system10. Alternatively, voice message system 10 includes a voice recognitionsubsystem that allows user B to select voice message transmissioninstructions merely by stating the corresponding command or selectioncodes. As another alternative, user B can select voice messagetransmission instructions by entering corresponding command or selectioncodes into voice message system 10 with a personal computer incommunication with system 10.

Process block 32 represents that voice message system 10 processes thevoice message data in accordance with any specified voice messagetransmission instruction.

Process block 34 represents that voice message system 10 directs thevoice message data to the destination message address as a conventionalvoice message, stores it for retrieval by the recipient (user B), andprovides an indication at telephone 14 that a voice message is availablefor retrieval. It will be appreciated that the internal operation ofvoice message systems from different manufacturers will vary. Forexample, directing voice message data to the destination message addressmay or may not include shifting or transmitting voice message data. Withregard to the present invention, the signal processing details by whicha particular voice message system makes a voice message available forretrieval are not material.

Process block 36 represents that method 20 is completed.

Voice message transmission control method 20 has been described withreference to a single otherwise conventional voice message system 10.The voice message transmission control method of the present inventionis also applicable to a network of at least two separate voice messagesystems. With the increased numbers of users and potential voicemessages on such a network, recipient control over voice messagesbecomes particularly desirable.

FIG. 3 shows a telephonic voice message apparatus 40 having a pair ofgenerally conventional telephonic voice message systems 50 and 52 thatare operable independently and communicate with each other through avoice message system network 54. Telephonic voice message systems 50 and52 are preferably similar to voice message system 10.

Voice message systems 50 and 52 may be telephonically accessed bymultiple system users of either system, each system user having anassigned message address or “mailbox,” as well as system visitors who donot have message addresses on voice message system 50 or 52. Forreference purposes, voice message systems 50 and 52 are shown connectedto telephones 56 and 58 by which a message sender (user X) and a messagerecipient (user Y) access voice message systems 50 and 52, respectively.Telephones 56 and 58 provide substantially the same access to respectivevoice message systems 50 and 52 that telephones 12 and 14 provide tovoice message system 10.

Voice message system network 54 includes network interface nodes ordevices 60 and 62 through which voice message systems 50 and 52 accesseach other, as well as other voice message systems connected to network54 but not shown. Network interface devices 60 and 62 may be, forexample, an APOGEE WORLDGATE manufactured by the assignee of thisapplication. Voice message system 50 and network interface device 60compose a first voice message network subsystem 61, and voice messagesystem 52 and network interface device 62 compose a second voice messagenetwork subsystem 63. Network interface devices 60 and 62 are operableindependently of and may each serve one or more voice message systems.Network interface devices 60 and 62 are interconnected by at least onetelecommunication channel 64, which is preferably a high capacitydigital telecommunication channel over which large volumes of voicemessage data can be transmitted efficiently.

Due to the independent operability of voice message systems 50 and 52,the method by which a recipient controls voice messages directed to himpreferably differs from voice message transmission control method 20.FIG. 4 is a flow diagram showing a preferred method 70 of controllingtransmission of voice message data between independently operable voicemessage systems 50 and 52 in accordance with the present invention.Voice message transmission control method 70 is described with referenceto communication between system users X and Y, but is similarlyapplicable to communication between. a system user and a system visitor.

Process block 72 represents that user X makes telephone contact withvoice message system 50. The telephone contact with voice message system50 would typically be specifically initiated by user X. If user Xattempts to make a direct telephonic call to user Y and is redirected toa voice message system, user X typically would be transferred to voicemessage system 52 with which user Y is associated. A voice message leftby user X directly on voice message system 52 would preferably beprocessed by voice message transmission control method 20.

Process block 76 represents that user X speaks into telephone 56 tocreate or originate for user Y a voice message from which voice messagesystem 50 generates and stores voice message data or information. Voicemessage system 50 also acquires and stores the message address for userY and any sender delivery instructions selected by user X. As is knownin the art, the destination message address may be keyed into a DTMFtelephone keypad by user X or may have been previously acquired by voicemessage system 50. Alternatively, voice message system 50 includes avoice recognition subsystem that allows user X to enter the destinationaddress and any sender delivery commands merely by stating them. Sincethe destination message address does not reside on voice message system50, user X would typically have to enter an expanded destination messageaddress that includes an indication that it resides on voice messagesystem 52.

Process block 78 represents that expanded destination message address ofrecipient's (user Y's) telephone 58 is transmitted from voice messagesystem 50 to associated network interface device 60.

Inquiry block 80 represents an inquiry whether the destination messageaddress is a valid address on voice message system 52 and whether thereis a specified voice message transmission instruction previouslyselected by user Y for controlling voice messages directed to thedestination message address. In a first preferred embodiment, voicemessage system 50 transmits the expanded destination message address toassociated network interface device 60, which forwards the destinationmessage address over channel 64 to network interface device 62associated with voice message system 52. Network interface device 62confirms whether the destination message address is a valid address ofvoice message system 52 and reviews a stored first listing ofdestination message addressees that have specified voice messagetransmission instructions. In this embodiment, information regardingvalid addresses of voice message system 52 and their associated voicemessage transmission instructions are periodically transferred fromsystem 52 to network interface device 62.

In a second preferred embodiment, the expanded destination messageaddress is transmitted to voice message system 52 via network interfacedevice 60, channel 64, and network interface device 62. In response to aquery from network interface device 62, voice message system 52 confirmswhether the destination message address is a valid address and reviews astored first listing of destination message addressees that havespecified voice message transmission instructions.

If the destination message address is valid and has a specified voicemessage transmission instruction, inquiry block 80 proceeds to processblock 82. If the destination message address is valid and does not havea specified voice message transmission instruction, inquiry block 80proceeds to process block 88. If the destination message address is notvalid, an invalid address message is provided to user X by way of thesender's voice message address.

Process block 82 represents that the specified voice messagetransmission instructions for the destination message address areaccessed from a stored listing of destination message addresses andassociated specified voice message transmission instructions. In thefirst and second preferred embodiments, the instructions are accessed bynetwork interface device 62 and voice message system 52, respectively.

It will be appreciated that voice message systems 50 and 52 and networkinterface devices 60 and 62 are analogous to computers by beingprogrammable and having large information storage capacity. Storing thelistings on and programming voice message system 52 or network interfacedevices 62 to create, review and access the listings is within thecapabilities of persons skilled in the art. The voice messagetransmission instructions and manner of selecting them can include thosedescribed above with reference to voice message system 10.Alternatively, network 54 could provide operator assistance services bywhich user Y could select voice message transmission instructions bycalling and informing a network operator of the instructions the userhas selected.

Process block 84 represents that a signal carrying the voice messagetransmission instructions is transmitted to network interface device 60via network interface device 62 and channel 64. Thus, a messagerecipient (user Y) can block or reroute selected messages before thereis an attempt to transmit them to the recipient as designated by themessage originator (user X).

Process block 86 represents that voice message system 50 transmits thevoice message data to network interface device 60, which processes thevoice message data in accordance with any specified voice messagetransmission instruction. Thus, because of the noncontemporaneous natureof voice message communication, the message originator and recipient arenot in communication during the processing of voice message transmissioninstructions established by the recipient.

Process block 88 represents that voice message system 50 directs thevoice message data to the destination message address on voice messagesystem 52 via network 54. Voice message system 52 stores the voicemessage data for retrieval by the recipient (user Y) and provides anindication at telephone 58 that a voice message is available forretrieval.

Process block 90 represents that method 70 is completed.

To control costs and message retrieval time, large entities using voicemessaging need to regulate the originators of incoming voice messagesand restrict the number of them. Significant costs include deliverysystem transient memory storage capacity, local access charges (e.g.,800 number or Bell Operating Company access charges), potential loss ofopportunity (e.g., recipient is in different place and time from placeand time of message transmission), and message transmission costs. Thefollowing example demonstrates the capability of the invention toachieve significant cost savings by allowing a recipient to block orre-route selected messages before they are transmitted to the recipientas designated by the message originator. For purposes of illustrationonly, the example is described with reference to the FIG. 3 embodiment.

EXAMPLE

User X wants to leave a message for uses Y. User X specifies certaindelivery instructions such as routine delivery scheduling andnonconfidential message, but user Y has specified for messages addressedto him different message delivery instructions that include locationre-routing, priority delivery, private message, encrypted message, anddelivery certification. Processing of the message by user X proceeds asfollows.

User X records a message on voice message system 50 and, upon completinghis message, proceeds to other, unrelated activities. voice messagesystem 50 communicates with network interface device 60 to indicate thepresence of the message user X left and gives delivery instructionsincluding the delivery address, length, and urgency of the message.Network interface device 60 communicates the delivery instructioninformation across telecommunication channel 64 to network interfacedevice 62, which in turn communicates with voice message system 52 tovalidate the delivery address and check for any alternative deliveryinstructions placed by user Y in either network interface device 62 orvoice message system 52.

Voice message system 52 provides back to network interface device 62 thealternative instructions specified by user Y and a confirmation of avalid delivery address. The alternative instructions and confirmationare then transmitted across telecommunication channel 64 to networkinterface device 60 to substitute the message delivery instructions ofuser Y for those of user X. Because user Y specified that messagesaddressed to him be re-routed, a significant cost saving is achieved asa consequence of the nontransmission of the message of user X to theoriginal delivery address of user Y.

The processing of message setup instructions is analogous to that forreal-time telephone call setup instructions, and in both cases the costis relatively low. Neither user X nor user Y incurs a cost above that ofnormal network overhead; therefore, the transmission of voice messagetransmission instructions achieves the savings objective for user Y.

In response to the change in message instructions, network interfacedevice 60 can reroute the message in accordance with the alternativeinstructions, which at a minimal cost change the delivery address,priority, confidentiality, encryption, and certification to thosespecified by user Y. For, example, if user Y specifies an address on thesame system as that of the address of user X, the only cost incurred todeliver the message would be the local access charge to point themessage to the delivery address commanded by user Y.

This example demonstrates that no message originator or recipient is online during message management processing of a previously recordedmessage, which processing is based on functions a message nonoriginatorhas defined. This example also shows the invention can be implemented ina local system, local area network (LAN), and wide area network (WAN)environment. Skilled persons will appreciate that the message managementfunctions carried out by way of example with reference to the FIG. 3system can be distributed to other system components, such as those ofthe system of FIG. 1.

Skilled workers will recognize that the above-described voice messagetransmission example would also be applicable to other types ofnon-contemporaneous message transmission such as those found infacsimile document store and forward services and electronic mail, andthat the communications medium employed need not be a telecommunicationschannel.

Skilled workers will further recognize that many changes may be made tothe details of the above-described embodiment of this invention withoutdeparting from the underlying principles thereof. For example, voicemessage transmission control method 70 is described with reference toseparate network interface devices 60 and 62 for respective voicemessage systems 50 and 52. As an alternative embodiment, voice messagetransmission control method 70 could operate with voice message systems50 and 52 and only a single network interface device in directcommunication with both message systems. The scope of the presentinvention should be determined, therefore, only by the following claims.

1. A method for controlling a message in a message system, the methodcomprising the steps of: acquiring and storing a message from a sender;acquiring and storing a destination address; acquiring and storing asender delivery command; and processing the message according to arecipient instruction and the sender delivery command, the recipientinstruction taking priority over the sender delivery command, therecipient instruction corresponding to the destination address and anidentity of the sender, the recipient instruction including aninstruction either to transmit or to block transmission of the message.2. The method of claim 1, wherein the recipient instruction to transmitcomprises an instruction to the transmit the message in a messageformat.
 3. The method of claim 2, wherein the message format comprisesan electronic mail format.
 4. The method of claim 2, wherein the messageformat comprises a facsimile format.
 5. The method of claim 1, whereinthe step of acquiring and storing a message from a sender comprises thesteps of: digitizing a voice message spoken by the sender; and storingthe message, the message including the digitized voice message.
 6. Themethod of claim 1, wherein the recipient instruction to transmitcomprises an instruction to transmit the message to an alternatedestination:
 7. The method of claim 1; wherein the recipient instructionto transmit comprises an instruction to encrypt the message prior totransmitting.
 8. The method of claim 1, wherein the recipientinstruction to transmit comprises an instruction to mark the messageprivate prior to transmitting.
 9. The method of claim 1, wherein therecipient instruction to transmit comprises an instruction to certifydelivery of the message.
 10. The method of claim 1, wherein the senderdelivery command is selected from a plurality of delivery commands. 11.The method of claim 10, wherein the plurality of delivery commandscomprises: transmit to alternate destination; transmit to additionaldestination; assign priority to the message; mark the message private;prevent the message from being copied; prevent the message from beingforwarded; encrypt the message; certify delivery of the message; convertthe message to an email format; and convert the message to a facsimileformat.
 12. A method for selectively transmitting a message between afirst and a second message network subsystem, each message networksubsystems having a message system and a network interface device, themethod comprising the steps of: the first message network subsystemacquiring a message from a sending user having a source address; thefirst message network subsystem digitizing and storing the message; thefirst message network subsystem acquiring a destination address from thesending user, the destination address corresponding to the message; thefirst message network subsystem storing the destination address; thefirst message network subsystem acquiring a transmission instructionfrom the sending user; the first message network subsystem storing thetransmission instruction; the first message network subsystemtransmitting the destination address to the second network subsystem;the first message network subsystem receiving a delivery instructionfrom the second network subsystem, the delivery instructioncorresponding to the destination address and the source address, thedelivery instruction including an instruction to convert the messageinto a message type or to block transmission of the message; and thefirst message network subsystem processing the message according to thedelivery instruction and the transmission instruction, the deliveryinstruction taking precedence over the transmission instruction.
 13. Themethod of claim 12, wherein the delivery instruction to convert themessage into a message type comprises an instruction to convert themessage into an electronic mail format.
 14. The method of claim 12,wherein the delivery instruction to convert the message into a messagetype comprises an instruction to transmit the message to an alternatedestination address.
 15. The method of claim 12, wherein the deliveryinstruction to convert the message into a message type comprises aninstruction to mark the message private.
 16. The method of claim 12,wherein the delivery instruction to convert the message into a messagetype comprises an instruction to certify delivery of the message. 17.The method of claim 12, wherein the delivery instruction to convert themessage into a message type comprises an instruction to convert themessage into a facsimile format.
 18. The method of claim 12, wherein thestep of the first message subsystem acquiring and storing a transmissioninstruction comprises acquiring and storing a transmission instructionselected from a plurality of transmission instructions.
 19. The methodof claim 18, wherein the plurality of transmission instructionscomprises: transmit message to destination; transmit message toalternate destination; transmit to additional destination; assignpriority to the message; mark the message private; encrypt the message;certify delivery of the message; prevent the message from being copies;prevent the message from being forwarded; convert the message to anemail format; and convert the message to a facsimile format.
 20. Themethod of claim 12, wherein the step of the first message networksubsystem receiving a delivery instruction from the second networksubsystem comprises the step of the first network interface devicereceiving the delivery instruction from the second network interfacedevice, and storing the delivery instruction in the first messagesystem.
 21. A method for selectively transmitting a message between afirst and a second message network subsystem, each message networksubsystems having a message system and a network interface device, themethod comprising the steps of: the second message network subsystemacquiring and storing a delivery instruction from a recipient having arecipient address, the delivery instruction corresponding to a sender,the delivery instruction including an instruction either to transmit themessage in an electronic mail format or to block transmission of themessage; the second message network subsystem receiving the destinationaddress from the first message network subsystem; the second messagenetwork subsystem determining if the destination address corresponds tothe recipient address; the second message network subsystem retrievingthe delivery instruction; and the second message network subsystemtransmitting the delivery instruction to the first message networksubsystem.
 22. The method of claim 21, wherein the delivery instructionto transmit the message in an electronic mail format further comprisesan instruction to transmit the message to an alternate destinationaddress.
 23. The method of claim 21, wherein the delivery instruction totransmit the message in an electronic mail format further comprises aninstruction to assign a priority to the message.
 24. The method of claim21, wherein the delivery instruction to transmit the message in anelectronic mail format further comprises an instruction to encrypt themessage.
 25. The method of claim 21, wherein the delivery instruction totransmit the message in an electronic mail format further comprises aninstruction to mark the message as private.
 26. The method of claim 21,wherein the step of the second message network subsystem determining ifthe destination address corresponds to the recipient address comprisesthe step of: the second network interface device determining if thedestination address corresponds to the recipient address.
 27. The methodof claim 26, wherein the step of the second message network subsystemacquiring and storing a delivery instruction from a recipient having arecipient address comprises the steps of: the second message systemacquiring and storing the delivery instruction from a recipient; and thesecond message system periodically transferring the recipient addressand the delivery instruction to the second network interface device.